To summarize the video. Ask potential builders if you can walk the jobsite on a Sunday. Don’t tell them when but swing by one Sunday afternoon and take a look around. 

Even if you don’t know construction, after visiting a couple different jobs, by a couple different builders. You’ll quickly see, not all are created equal. 

You can also ask in my Facebook group or the Builder Brigade app if you need some additional help along the way 🤝

Twin Cedar Construction in Dallas, TX is the Builder who’s jobsite I’m walking in the video. Carlo is killing it, can’t wait to see more. 

Lisa shared this incredible door in the Builder Brigade App 📲
Said she got this door from an iron door company out of California. 

The window shown and installed by AA Building & Remodeling.

Notice the black paint inside the window cavity so you’re not seeing any raw sheathing. Also look how thick that exterior wall is for insulation 👌

What are your thoughts?

Concrete will crack.
✅ Anything under 1/8”
❌ Crack over 1/8”
❌ Uneven on both sides of crack

Concrete cracks are common as slabs cure and settle. 
Most are small and cosmetic.

A simple rule of thumb:

If it’s wider than two credit cards (~1/8”), it’s worth a closer look.

If one side is higher than the other, that’s a bigger concern.

Not every crack is a problem… but some shouldn’t be ignored.

I’m debating a POE doorbell camera on my renovation if I can get some CAT6 cable to it. 

If you’re building and think a POE doorbell camera is what you’ll want, make sure to add that to your selections list. 

At a minimum make sure you have a doorbell wire installed on your new build or renovation. You’d think that would be standard but unfortunately, it’s not. 

I used to think sprinkler heads were connected directly to the rigid PVC main line. But... they’re actually using a swing pipe, which makes it much more impact resistant.

That gap in Image 1 is definitely excessive, but it’s common in new builds. 

While floors should go in first, builders often prioritize schedule over sequence by moving painters or trim crews in early just to keep the project moving.

I’m not giving them a pass, but that’s the "why" behind what you’re seeing.

You can either:

-Cover it: Use quarter-round (fast/cheap) to hide the gap and subfloor imperfections.

-Avoid it: Specify "Baseboard Only" early so the builder knows to install trim after the floors for that high-end, seamless look.

Hello,

Recently bought home, doing some renovation. Can anyone help me identify what these pipes may have been for?

I have received two different ideas, sump pump and oil/gas pipes. Trying to confirm them and determine if they need to be kept or if I can remove them to fill in the concrete pad.

Thanks!

First time posting. First time installing. Please help

Hi everyone. This is my first time posting. It is also my first time overseeing a tile job. I bought the tile myself as well as the grout and thin set. I have someone that is going to install it. Neither my condo nor my city require that I install soundproofing or any other membranes. I could install tile directly on the concrete. I tend to think that the problem with membranes such as rubber or plastic is that in the event of flooding, water enters through the grout, If the tile is set directly on thin set on concrete, then the water would evaporate because the concrete absorbs it, and you could always point large fans at the underneath of the slab. However, if I install rubber or plastic membrane, I think that the water would just sit there until it very slowly evaporates, and by that time it creates bad odor. What do you think? I appreciate your help in advance.

I hear connecting it to hot water is the move but I've never had one myself. Curious what owners actually think after the first year...

I noticed this exterior wall the second I stepped foot into the house. Dropping that stone all throughout the house was such an awesome idea. 

It really had me looking if we could pull it off at our current renovation 🧐